Apparatus for burning scrap material

ABSTRACT

Apparatus designed primarily for burning used automobiles in the scrapping process. It includes an elongated burning tunnel having one tangent of a track for material carrying cars passing therethrough, the track having a second tangent and the tangents being connected by semicircular end sections. The track is higher at the exit end of the tunnel than at the entrance end and the cars run by gravity down the second tangent for reloading. Means is provided to propel the cars from the exit end of the tunnel to the higher end of the second tangent and from the curved section at the entrance of the tunnel to a position for loading adjacent the entrance of the tunnel.

limited States mm [72] inventor James '1- Palmenlh 2,873,101 2/1959 Babcock 263/2 18011 30th St. North, Birmingham, Ala. 3,329,419 7/1967 Corson 263/28 352011 3,429,974 2/1969 Watson et al...... 263/28 X [2]] p 79315 Primary Examiner-John .l. Camby [22] Filed 1970 Anome .lennin s CarterdzThom son 45 Patented Dec. 14,1971 y g ABSTRACT: Apparatus designed primarily for burning used [54] APPARATUS FOR BURNING SCRAP MATERIAL automobiles in the scrapping process. it includes an elongated 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

burning tunnel having one tangent ofa track for material car- [52] US. Cl 263/28, rying cars passing therethrough, the track having a second tan- I ll0/l8,263/2 gent and the tangents being connected by semicircular end [51] lint. C11 F271) 9/00, sections. The track is higher at the exit end of the tunnel than F23g 7/00 at the entrance end and the cars run by gravity down the [50] lFieldl of Search 263/2, 28; second tangent for reloading. Means is provided to propel the 110/8, 18 cars from the exit end of the tunnel to the higher end of the second tangent and from the curved section at the entrance of [56] References cued the tunnel to a position for loading adjacent the entrance of UNITED STATES PATENTS the tunnel. 1,038,901 9/1912 Kreidler 263/28 Zfl PATENTED mac 1 4 l97l SHEET 8 BF 2 INVENTOR. Tamas [Pa/me)", J3."

APPARATUS FOR BURNING SCRAP MATERIAL This invention relates to apparatus for burning material such as used automobiles preparatory to reducing them to usable scrap.

In the reclamation of used automobiles for scrap purposes, it is necessary to burn from such vehicles the various combustible components such as upholstery, rubber, plastic and the like prior to cutting the steel parts for scrap. It heretofore has been proposed to pass such used vehicles through a burning tunnel where the combustibles are consumed. In all such prior devices known to me there has been no satisfactory way to return the empty cars, after passing from the tunnel and being unloaded, to the entrance end of the tunnel for reloading and subsequent passage through the tunnel. Further, in prior apparatus an inordinate amount of labor has been required to operate the same, resulting in high operating costs.

An object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the character designed in which used automobiles may be burned with maximum speed and minimum labor, materially reducing the cost of such operation.

Another object is to provide, in combination with an elongated burning tunnel, an endless track having a down-sloping empty car return section or tangent and means to propel the cars from the exit end of the tunnel to the upper end of said section, together with other means to position the empty returned cars for reloading adjacent the entrance end of the tunnel.

A further object is to slope the tunnel and track therein upwardly from the entrance toward the exit end thereof, thus providing a continuous draft of cool, outside air which moves generally along the undersides of the cars, preventing overheating of the undercarriages, wheels and bearings thereof.

More general objects are to provide apparatus of the kind indicated which is more efficient, timewise and costwise, than prior apparatus and which requires no highly skilled labor for its operation, yet which is fully effective to remove the objectionable combustible material from the used automobiles.

Briefly, I propose apparatus for burning automobiles and the like which comprises an elongated tunnel, preferably sloping upwardly from its entrance end to its exit end. This tunnel is just wide enough and just high enough to permit passage therethrough of a string of loaded dollies or cars which run on a track on the floor of the tunnel. The length or tangent of track passing through the tunnel is joined outwardly of the ends of the tunnel by substantially semicircular sections in turn connected to a second tangent, thus providing a closed track on which the cars move. The end of the second tangent adjacent the exit end of the tunnel is elevated above its lower end so that when the just unloaded cars are moved onto the upper end thereof they roll by gravity onto the curved section adjacent the entrance end of the tunnel. Located substantially at the centers of the curved sections are powered horizontally disposed booms which engage the cars and propel them, respectively, from the exit end of the tunnel to the elevated end of the second tangent and from the curved track section at the lower end thereof to a position for loading at the entrance end of the tunnel. I provide means outside the tunnel for moving the string of cars through the tunnel. The booms preferably are driven in synchronism with each other and timed so that each empty car is returned individually back to the entrance end ofthe tunnel.

Apparatus illustrating features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail fragmental view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom sectional view of the mechanism as viewed along line 44 of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 5 is a detached, enlarged view of the escapement mechanism which prevents the string of cars from rolling backward, in the tunnel.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention l illustrate at 10 an elongated, closed burning tunnel. It will be noted that the tunnel l0 slopes from its entrance end 111 to its exit end 12 so that the end 112 is higher than the end 1 ll.

Passing through the tunnel is one straight section or tangent 13 of a closed railway track. The track includes a second tan gent M and these tangents are joined by substantially semicircular track sections 116 and 17, the former being located adjacent the exit end 12 and the latter adjacent the entrance end ll ofthe tunnel.

Adapted to be moved in a string or line through the tunnel are a plurality of metal cars or dollies w. As will appear, these cars are pulled intermittently through the tunnel by means of a cable 19 which may be driven by a winch 211, the winch being powered by a motor indicated generally at 22 from a source of energy, not shown. Each of the cars may have an eye member 23 on its side and the cable 19 may be removably attached to these eyes so that when the cable is wound upon the drum the entire string of cars is pushed through the tunnel, all as will be more fully explained hereafter.

From what has been described so far it will be seen that the exit end 112 of the tunnel and the track section 113 thereat are at a higher elevation than the curved section 117. Therefore, when the cars reach approximately the point marked X in FIG. l and numbered 241, they roll from that point by gravity down the tangent 14 and normally come to rest approximately where the car 18 is indicated in FIG. 1, in dotted lines at the right-hand side.

Located adjacent the center of the curved track sections 16 and 17 are car propelling booms designated generally by the numeral 26. In view of the fact that these are identical a description of one will suffice for both. First, each of the booms is mounted upon a substantial base 27 which carries in rigid manner a bearing shaft 28. Mounted for rotation about the shaft 28 is a hub 29 carrying a sprocket 31 to the top of which is affixed a baseplate 32. Projecting outwardly from the baseplate 32 is the boom proper indicated at 33 and this boom may be stabilized by one or a plurality of cables or rods 34. Further, a weight box 36 is provided on the opposite side of the shaft 28 from the boom 33, to counterbalance the structure.

At the ends of the booms is a projecting rodlike member 37 which is adapted to engage a depending plate 33 carried on the sides ofthe cars 118.

Each boom is driven by a synchronous motor 39 operating through a reduction gearbox 411 to drive an output shaft 42 carrying a sprocket 43. A sprocket chain 44 connects the sprockets 43 and 31. In a manner which will be apparent to those skilled in the art the two motors of the two booms may be driven in synchronism through appropriate electrical devices and connections. Thus, and for a reason later to appear, the booms are maintained substantially in the relative relationship shown in FIGv I, that is, approximately displaced from each other.

Adjacent the entrance end of the tunnel I provide an escapement mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 45 and which is shown more in detail in FIG. 5. The purpose of this mechanism is to permit the cars to move into the tunnel, but to hold the entire string against reverse movement due to the tendency to roll down grade, out of the tunnel. The mechanism 45 comprises an arm 4-6 pivoted at 47 to a baseplate 4B which in turn is supported from the ground on a pedestal or base, not shown. A spring W urges the arm 46 to the position shown in FIG. 5 and against a stop 51. The end of the arm 46 is beveled as at 52 so that the depending member 38 on each of the cars, when it engages the end 52 of the arm, will pivot the same against the force of the spring and go past the end of the arm. However, the cars cannot move backward, out of the tunnel, due to the engagement of the depending member 38 of the end car with the side of the arm as illustrated in FIG. 5.

From the foregoing the method of constructing and using my apparatus together with the several advantages thereof may now be more fully explained and understood. With the apparatus constructed as shown in the drawings scrap materials such as scrap automobiles may be loaded on the cars at the entrance end 11 of the tunnel. lf automobiles are being burned it is customary to spray a considerable quantity of diesel oil or the like in and around the bodies and to set them afire, just as they enter the tunnel. With a string of the cars positioned as illustrated in FIG. 1 one operator standing at the entrance end of the tunnel connects the cable 19 to the eye member 23 of one of the cars 18 which is outside the tunnel. The winch 21 is now energized by the motor 22 whereupon the entire string of cars in the tunnel moves forward. While not in motion an operator working at the exit end of the tunnel and by means of suitable machinery removes the burned automobiles from the car which has just emerged from the end of the tunnel. With the booms 26 in operation it will be seen that the member 37 of the boom 36 at the exit end of the tunnel engages the depending member 38 of the car which has just been unloaded and moves it around the curved section 16 to approximately the point 24, whereupon it proceeds by gravity down the inclined tangent 14. Since the boom 26 at the other end is operating in synchronism with the boom just mentioned, the car is picked up at approximately the position indicated for the car 18 in dotted lines on the curved section 17 in FIG. 1 and moved back to a position adjacent the end of the tunnel, for reloading. Thus, with two workmen, one at the entrance end and one at the exit end, I am enabled to maintain a steady, efficient burning operation without the necessity of having manually to shift the cars or in any way move them manually from their unloading position back to a return or start posi- U011.

By sloping the tunnel upwardly from its entrance to its exit ends, I not only afford the gravity return for the cars, but also cause a continuing flow of cool, outside air to move under the cars, at least those in the right-hand section of the tunnel as viewed in FIG. I where the majority of the burning takes place, to keep them cool. By the provision of the winch which is located outside the tunnel l eliminate all heat problems relative to means to propel the cars through the tunnel.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that l have devised an improved apparatus for burning material such as. scrap automobiles preparatory to converting them to usable scrap. In actual practice my invention has proven to be extremely satisfactory. Further, my invention lends itself admirably to the inclusion in the tunnel of smoke abatement mechanisms. By way of example, I have constructed a burning tunnel approximately 100 feet long, 100 inches inside width and an average height of about 84 inches. The exit end of the tunnel was about 18 inches higher than the entrance end and the high point on the curved section of track 16 was approximately 30 inches above the lower end of the tangent 14. The booms 26 were rotated in synchronism at about 1 revolution per each minutes. The tangents l3 and 14 were approximately 153 feet long and the end sections 16 and 17 were approximately 40 feet in radius. By employing of the cars 18 and with the apparatus dimensioned and operating as just illustrated, 1 consistently completely remove all the combustibles from 10 to 12 automobiles per hour and accomplish this with only three men, one of whom loads the cars with the scrap automobiles, the second of whom unloads the same and the third of whom sprays and inspects the loaded scrap automobiles and intermittently operates the winch to propel the string of cars into and through the tunnel.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for burning loads of material such as scrap automobiles,

a. an elon ated burningtunnel, b. an end ess track havmg a pair of tangents connected by substantially semicircular end sections, one of said tangents passing through the tunnel,

c. the semicircular end sections of the said track adjacent the discharge end of the tunnel being at a higher elevation than the entrance end of the tunnel,

d. a plurality of wheeled vehicles on the track adapted to receive loads of material to be burned as the vehicles pass through the tunnel, and

e. means to propel the loaded vehicles through the tunnel and to the highest elevation of the semicircular track portion at the exit end of the tunnel, whereby the vehicles may be loaded at the entrance end of the tunnel, passed through the tunnel and unloaded at the exit end thereof and said empty vehicles are moved by gravity to the entrance end semicircular track section, for recycling through the tunnel.

2. In apparatus for burning loads of materials such as scrap automobiles,

a. an elongated burning tunnel having an entrance end and an exit end, said tunnel being upwardly inclined from the entrance to the exit end,

b. an endless track having a pair of tangents connected at each end by curved sections, one of which tangents passes through the tunnel and the curved section adjacent the exit end of the tunnel being at a higher elevation than the curved section at the entrance end of the tunnel,

. a plurality of wheeled vehicles on the track adapted to be loaded at the entrance end of the tunnel with loads of material to be burned,

d. means intermittently to propel the vehicles through the tunnel and stop them adjacent the exit end thereof for unloading,

c. drive means adjacent the exit end of the tunnel efiective to propel the unloaded vehicles one by one after they exit from the tunnel to and past the highest point in the adjacent curved section of the track, whereby the empty vehicles run by gravity along the other of said tangents and onto the curved track section adjacent the entrance end of the tunnel, and

other drive means effective to move the empty vehicles along the curved track section adjacent the entrance end of the tunnel to a loading position adjacent the said end of the tunnel.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which both of said drive means comprise driven horizontally disposed booms located adjacent the centers of the curved track sections and adapted to engage the vehicles and move them along their associated curved track sections.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said booms are driven in synchronism with each other, whereby when the boom adjacent the exit end delivers a vehicle to its curved track section, the other boom comes into position to drivingly contact the vehicle just as it arrives at the other of said curved track sections.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the vehicles are pushed through the tunnel in end to end contact, the propelling means for such string of vehicles being located at the entrance end of the outside the tunnel, and means adjacent the entrance end of the tunnel to hold the string of vehicles against reverse movement due to the inclination of the track in the tunnel. 

1. In apparatus for burning loads of material such as scrap automobiles, a. an elongated burning tunnel, b. an endless track having a pair of tangents connected by substantially semicircular end sections, one of said tangents passing through the tunnel, c. the semicircular end sections of the said track adjacent the discharge end of the tunnel being at a higher elevation than the entrance end of the tunnel, d. a plurality of wheeled vehicles on the track adapted to receive loads of material to be burned as the vehicles pass through the tunnel, and e. means to propel the loaded vehicles through the tunnel and to the highest elevation of the semicircular track portion at the exit end of the tunnel, whereby the vehicles may be loaded at the entrance end of the tunnel, passed through the tunnel and unloaded at the exit end thereof and said empty vehicles are moved by gravity to the entrance end semicircular track section, for recycling through the tunnel.
 2. In apparatus for burning loads of materials such as scrap automobiles, a. an elongated burning tunnel having an entrance end and an exit end, said tunnel being upwardly inclined from the entrance to the exit end, b. an endless track having a pair of tangents connected at each end by curved sections, one of which tangents passes through the tunnel and the curved section adjacent the exit end of the tunnel being at a higher elevation than the curved section at the entrance end of the tunnel, c. a plurality of wheeled vehicles on the track adapted to be loaded at the entrance end of the tunnel with loads of material to be burned, d. means intermittently to propel the vehicles through the tunnel and stop them adjacent the exit end thereof for unloading, e. drive means adjacent the exit end of the tunnel effective to propel the unloaded vehicles one by one after they exit from the tunnel to and past the highest point in the adjacent curved section of the track, whereby the empty vehicles run by gravity along the other of said tangents and onto the curved track section adjacent the entrance end of the tunnel, and f. other drive means effective to move the empty vehicles along the curved track section adjacent the entrance end of the tunnel to a loading position adjacent the said end of the tunnel.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which both of said drive means comprise driven horizontally disposed booms located adjacent the centers of the curved track sections and adapted to engage the vehicles and move Them along their associated curved track sections.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said booms are driven in synchronism with each other, whereby when the boom adjacent the exit end delivers a vehicle to its curved track section, the other boom comes into position to drivingly contact the vehicle just as it arrives at the other of said curved track sections.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the vehicles are pushed through the tunnel in end to end contact, the propelling means for such string of vehicles being located at the entrance end of and outside the tunnel, and means adjacent the entrance end of the tunnel to hold the string of vehicles against reverse movement due to the inclination of the track in the tunnel. 